Braking mechanism for mobile containers



NOV. 30, 1943. c, FlNE 2,335,401

BRAKING MECHANISM FOR MOBILE CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 9, 1939 :5Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 30, 1943.

c. A. FINE BRAKING MECHANISM FOR MOBILE CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 9, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 2 l .22 .22 lea d9.. ,wz' e NOV- 30 I I C, A. BRAKINGmncxmmsm FOR MOBILE CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 9, 19:59 s Sheets-Sheet sPatented Nov. 30, 1943 BRAKING MECHANISM FOR MOBILE CONTAINERS CharlesA. Fine, Chicago, 111., assignor to Stewart- Warner Corporation,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Virginia Application August 9, 1939,Serial No. 289,209

3 Claims.

My invention relates to braking mechanism for mobile containers and isillustrated as being applied to barrel pumps designed for use with steelbarrels or drums in which lubricants are commonly shipped and whereinthe pumping mechanism serves to dispense the lubricant from such barrelsor drums to the point of application.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved brakingmechanism for mobile containers.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved brakingmechanism for mobile containers which is particularly adapted forapplication to barrel pumps and similar devices.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved brakingmechanism for mobile containers which is connected to the cover of thecontainer and automatically operated thereby.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved brakingmechanism for mobile containers.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved brakingmechanism for mobile containers which will provide adequate brakingforce to hold the container under all normal conditions regardless ofthe degree to which the container is filled or the position of thecontainer parts and associated mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved brakingmechanism particularly adapted for barrel pumps and which is efiectivefor all positions of the pump mechanism and for all quantities oflubricant in the barrels or drums associated therewith.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved brakingmechanism for barrel pumps which is automatically brought into action bythe initial operation in changing lubricant drums and automaticallyreturned to inoperative position by the final step in such operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved brakingmechanism for barrel pumps which compensates for the redistribution inweight occurring when a lubricant drum is removed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a barrel and pump enclosureembodying my invention.

certain of the parts being illustrated in phantom outline to facilitateease of understanding;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 and taken on the line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the mechanism controlling the automaticsupport;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail view of the cover support showing the cover inclosed position; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the cover in raisedposition.

In the drawings I have illustrated my novel braking mechanism applied toa barrel and pump enclosure comprising a base 20 mounted on suitablewheels 22 and supporting a generally cylindrical sheet metal housing 24comprising a semi-cylindrical portion 26 permanently secured to the base25 and a semi-cylindrical removable portion 28. The stationary portion26 of the housing 24 is provided with vertical slots 3i) for receivingtongues 32 formed on the removable portion 28 of the housing whereby thetwo semi-cylindrical portions of the housing are normally held ininterlocked relationship. The upper end of the housing is normallyclosed by a cover 34.

In Figure l I have illustrated a lubricant drum 36 as being locatedwithin the housing 24 and resting upon the base 25. It will beunderstood that the drum 3% is the usual metal shipping container forlubricants and that the plate which normally closes the essentialopening in the upper head of the drum has been removed, therebyproviding an opening through which a suitable pump may be inserted.

The pumping mechanism comprises a pump cylinder 38 having a lubricantinlet atthe lower end thereof and provided, if desired, with aconventional screen for preventing impurities from reaching the pumpingmechanism. The pump cylinder is suspended by means of a tube 4%! from asupporting plate 42 carrying thereacove the air-operated motor cylinder44. The supporting plate 32 is attached to the upper end of a rod :8 byscrew 50, and the rod 48 telescopes in a tube 52 affixed to the base 20and supported at its upper end in flange 54 integral with the fixedhousing part 26. Suitable mechanism may be provided in conjunction withthe rod 43 and tube 52 to permit the pumping mechanism to be raised andsecured in raised position. In accomplishing this the pumping mechanismmay be swung away from the stationary part 26 of the housing whereby theweight of the pumping mechanism more than compensates for the removal ofthe movable part of the housing, thereby inhibiting upsetting of theentire structure during removal and replacement of the lubricant drum.After a new drum has been inserted, the pumping mechanism may bereturned to its operative position.

Air is supplied to the pumping mechanism by a flexible air hose 68provided with a suitable coupling member I for attachment to a nipple I2permanently affixed to the base 20. The nipple 12 is connected to oneend of a pipe I4 secured at its upper end to flange 54 and connected toa short flexible hose I6 which is connected to the motor cylinder 44.

The pump cylinder 38 discharges lubricant into the tube 40, anintermediate portion of which is connected to a flexible hose 84 leadingto a lubricant discharge connection 66 attached to the fixed portion 26of the housing. It will be noted that the flexible hose 84 is ofsuflicient length to permit raising and lowering of the pumpingmechanism without uncoupling of this hose.

A flexible discharge hose 88 is normally connected to the dischargeoutlet 86. The discharge hose 88 may be provided with a suitable controlvalve 90 for regulating the discharge of lubricant through a nozzle 92adapted to be successively brought into sealing engagement with nipplessecured to bearing members or other machine parts requiring lubrication,such for example as the chassis bearings of automobiles and othermachines. When the barrel pump is not being used to lubricate bearings,the nozzle 92 may rest in a tubular support 94 carried by the fixedportion 26 of the housing and. having its lower end 96 located above theopening in the lubricant drum as best illustrated in Figure 2 wherebyany leakage from the nozzle 92 will be returned to the drum.

My invention contemplates the provision of an automatic brake forrendering the entire unit immobile during the drum changing operation.This brake is lowered automatically when the cover 34 is swung to openposition and automatically raised when the cover is swung to closedposition. Referring to Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6, it will be seen that thecover is provided with a bracket 38 having spaced legs I00 pivotallyattached by bolts I02 to a second bracket I64 provided by the upper endof the stationary portion 26 of the housing.

The cover 34 has a handle I06 to facilitate opening and closing of thiscover and it will be noted from Figure 2 that when the cover is inclosed position, it forms an additional means for holding the removablepart of the housing in place. Referring particularly to Figures 5 and 6,it will be seen that I have provided a spring I06 having one endattached to a finger H0 integral with bracket I64, the other end of thespring being attached to a pin H2 attached to leg portions E03 ofbracket 98.

The positions of the finger H0 and pin I I2 are such that when the coveris closed as viewed in Figure 5, the spring I58 tends to hold the coverin this position, whereas when the cover is as viewed in Figure 6, thespring I08 likewise tends to hold the cover in this position. It will.be further noted from Figure 6 that when the cover is raised, the upperedges of the legs I06 engage the extreme upper end of bracket I34 tolimit the opening movement of the cover. The legs I60 and bracket I04are preferably made of heavier or harder material than the housing 24,so that engagement of these parts upon opening movement of the covercreates no damage.

Opening movement of the cover 34 raises a link H4 pivotally connected atits upper end to a leg I00 of the bracket 98. The lower end of the linkH4 is attached to one end of a lever H6 mounted on a fixed pivot II8carried by a plate I20 attached to the fixed portion 26 of the housing24. The other end of the lever H6 is provided with a pin I 22 extendinginto an arcuate slot I 24 in a second lever I26 also mounted on thefixed pivot I I8.

The lever I26 has a pin I28 movable in a slot I30 and a third lever I32mounted on a fixed pivot I34 also secured to the plate I20. A strongspring I36 connects the separated ends of the levers I26 and I32 and, inthe position of the part shown, urges the lever I26 toward a stop I38formed by a turned-up portion of the plate I20.

A ground engaging brake is attached to one end of the lever I26. Thisbrake comprises a U-shaped strap I40 having rubber covered ends or shoesI42 for engaging the floor or pavement. Bolts I44 secure the strap I40to one end of an L-shaped rod I46 slidable in a guide I48 rigid with theplate I20. The upper end of the rod I46 is pivotally connected at I50 toan extension I 52 rigid with the lever I26.

In Figure 3 the parts are shown in the positions they assume when thebrake is in ground engaging position, which is the position it assumeswhen the cover 34 is raised. In Figure 3 the brake is firmly pressedagainst the ground or floor by the powerful spring I36 and the rubbercovered ends I42 prevent movement of the barrel pump while the lubricantdrums are being changed.

After the old drum has been removed and a fresh drum of lubricantinserted, the cover 34 is lowered. As the cover is lowered, the link II4 moves downwardly, thereby swinging the levers I I6 and I26 in acounterclockwise direction about their pivotal support H8 and at thesame time raising the brake I40. Simultaneously, the lever I 32 is movedin a clockwise direction about its pivotal support I34. As soon as thespring I36 is raised above the pivotal supports H8 and I34, it snaps thelever I26 against the stop I54 and hiolds the brake in elevated orinoperative posit on.

It will be seen that the braking mechanism'is so designed and connectedwith the cover that a powerful braking action is obtained with littleeffort on the part of the operator and that any efiort exerted to raiseor lower the brake is incidental to other operations necessarilyinvolved in removing an exhausted drum and replacing it with a full drumof lubricant. The pin I22 and slot I24 provide a lost motion connectionbetween levers H6 and I26 which compensates for manufacturing variationsin the sizes of the parts and also compensates for variations indistance between the floor or pavement and base 20.

While I have illustrated and described the housing 24 as being generallycylindrical in crosssection, it will be understood that this housing mayassume any other desirable and attractive shape. It will further beunderstood that this housing and other exposed parts may be painted,enameled or otherwise attractively finished and may bear any appropriatetrade-mark, design or other indicia.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a simple,inexpensive, durable and easily operated braking mechanism illustratedas being applied to a barrel and pump enclosure particularly designedfor, but not necessarily limited to, handling of oils, greases, or otherlubricants. Attention is also called to the fact that while the upperend of the lubricant drum remains open while the drum is located in mybarrel pump, the housing 24 and cover 34 effectively exclude dirt, dust,water and other impurities and thereby maintain intact the lubricatingqualities of the contents of the drum. While my novel braking mechanismis shown as being applied to a barrel and pump enclosure, it is notnecessarily limited to this use but may be applied to other mobilecontainers.

While I have illustrated and described only one specific embodiment ofmy invention, it is to be understood that my invention may assumenumerous forms and that the scope of my invention is defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A barrel and pump enclosure comprising a base, a housing carried bysaid base, wheels supporting said base, said base and housing beingadapted removably to receive a shipping container holding material to bedispensed, said housing having a movable portion, and braking mechanismto prevent movement of said base connected to said movable portion ofthe housing and automatically operated thereby, said braking mechanismcomprising a U-shaped member having rubber ground-engaging ends andspring applying and releasing means.

2. A barrel and pump enclosure comprising a base, a sheet-metal housingcarried by said base, Wheels supporting said base, said base and housingbeing adapted removably to receive a shipping container holding materialto be dispensed, said housing having a, sheet-metal cover, brakingmechanism to prevent movement of said base connected to said cover and.automatically operated thereby, a first bracket attached to said cover,a second bracket attached to said housing, a pivotal connection betweensaid brackets, and hardened engaging parts provided by said brackets forlimiting opening movement of said cover.

3. A barrel and pump enclosure, including a base adapted to hold alubricant container, a movable support for said base, a brake forpreventing movement of said base, applying means for said brakecomprising a pair of interconnected levers, a spring for urging saidlevers toward either brake applying position or brak releasing position,a container enclosing housing mounted on said base, said housing havinga pivoted cover, and brake control means connecting said levers and saidcover and actuated by the pivotal movement of said cover.

CHAS. A. FINE.

